Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

Friday, May 20, 2016

Father's Day gift

My oldest daughter is saving money to record a cd of her playing the Native American flute.  She did a t-shirt campaign about a year ago, but now has another design to offer.  This time it's for those special people in our life...dads. 

With Father's Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get the dad in your life a t-shirt just for him. 

Just follow this link and get the t-shirt in the color you think would be right for him.  The colors offered are white, gray, and blue.  The t-shirt has an American flag on the back with the words "America's Greatest Dad 2016" underneath.

Get a great one-of-a-kind gift and help out a very talented young lady at the same time!

I've included a sample of her beautiful music below.  Enjoy!!








Until next time...

JenT

Monday, April 13, 2015

snack time

With 12 children you have to be organized to survive.


With 12 growing children you have to have snacks.


With 12 children sometimes the snacks disappear before some children get a chance to have their share.


From those circumstances we came up with this concept.


They get their own box and enough snacks to last a couple of weeks.  They get one snack a day (ideally) but if they run out before the allotted time is up - oh well.  They just have to do without until snack refill time. 


So far it has worked out.  They even came up with a snack swap since they do have their own preferences and tastes.  So far, so good.


Until next time...

JenT

Friday, December 12, 2014

new phases of life

Ahh...new phases of life.



What is it about the age of 17 that makes you realize you have pretty much a full-grown adult on your hands.



16 was fun and we knew that she was growing up...but 17 is a whole new ballgame.


 


Not that we are trying to get rid of her anytime soon...she can live with us for another 10 years and that would be fine with us.



Until next time...


 JenT

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

it's all about love

 Share the Love- Teaching Kids to Show Love Through Acts of Kindness

Valentine's Day is for sweethearts!  Or is it?

Well, sure it is.  But it doesn't have to be EXCLUSIVELY for them, right?  Right!

After all, if that were the case then the kiddos couldn't enjoy it. 

I'm hoping this year to get my kids more involved with showing love to everyone around them.  I found this handy-dandy list of 20 different random acts of kindness to help give us some ideas.

You can find it HERE.

Until next time...


JenT

Friday, December 6, 2013

kids' fun




 How many kids does it take to wash the dishes? lol


Until next time...

JenT

Friday, September 6, 2013

special things for special children

If you've read my blog for any length of time you know that I am friends with Kat over at Art's Chili Pepper.

Their family was recently blessed with a special baby; a Down Syndrome baby.  Their oldest daughter has been busy making owls they named The Henry Owl in honor of her brother.  They are super cute. :) 

Right now she is offering them at 50% off!!  These are unique, one-of-kind toys that you can be happy to own.

Read their story here.

Purchase an owl through their link or this one.



 I tell ya - I had a really hard time choosing just one!!


Until next time...

 JenT

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

growing up

So there comes a time in every parent's life when their kids get to that point when they can go on trips by themselves.  Yes.  We have reached that stage in parenthood.  It's scary - but exciting.  You pray, you worry a little, you pray some more.  You let go and trust God to take care of them.  You trust them to remember what you have taught them over the years.  It's not that they are leaving permanently.  It's just a little jaunt off to the grandparents' house.  But it's the beginning.  It's a new journey in life that we must adjust to.

What am I rambling about?  My two oldest went waaaaaaaay out to California last week to spend the 4th of July at their Grandpa's.  They are only 13 and 15.  Only!!  lol   Well, they had fun and I'm glad.  I see more trips in the future, but we will cross those bridges when we get to them.  Such is life, eh?



Until next time...

JenT

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Don't Blame the Kids!!!

"Hey Mama, just stopping in to encourage you to rest today in the Lord. Your house is not going to be perfectly clean; embrace it. Your dinner might not be ready on time; embrace it. Your shoes don't match your shirt; embrace that, too. You forgot to brush your teeth and you look a bit like Sweetums from the Muppets; embrace the madness.

But you are with your children and you put them first, day after day. You keep them fed and loved on. They're dressed and they're happy (even if they're in jammies). Their hair's not brushed, and the 2 year old is wearing unmatched socks, but who cares?? Look at their faces.
That should say it all. Their faces don't lie.

YOU ARE A GOOD MOTHER. Your kids are loved and YOU are a big reason for their health and happiness. Embrace the day.

Embrace those Sweetum babies, too. Walk, Mama. You done good."


Now my view:

Don't get me wrong, I understand the sentiment behind these words.  I see these posts a lot; on Facebook, on blogs, in articles online and in magazines.  And I understand the message that they are trying to send; don't spend your days missing out on your children's lives.  Enjoy them while they are young and don't sweat the small stuff.
But...BUT...I get a little irritated at how they are presented.  Don't use your children as an excuse to have a messy house.  Don't use having more than "normal" children as an excuse to not fix your little girl's hair.  Don't use those little blessings as an excuse to let yourself go.  Please, please, moms, don't use them as an excuse to be lazy, to have a dirty house, to not teach them valuable lessons such as neatness and good hygiene. 
Now, granted, I'm sure most people understand that the message behind the above words isn't saying that.  But I've seen and heard too many people over the years doing that very thing.  I've seen little ones in large families with their hair not brushed, I've seen parents being too relaxed in teaching their children basic things like picking up after themselves, I've heard and read the excuses of having a messy house because of all the children.
Don't get me wrong - I'm NOT perfect.  I am still working on teaching my own children to clean up after themself, to brush their teeth.  I make myself take the time in the morning to make sure my little girls' hair is brushed and fixed.  I try very hard to keep them in well maintained clothing (hard with 6 boys :) ).  I try to teach them basic manners of life.  BUT at the same time we are picking flowers, reading books, watching movies, making cookies.  We are enjoying life and we are learning too.
I understand that we don't all have older ones that help.  I remember what it was like with 5 little children and no big helpers day after day.  But when you teach those little lessons while they are young, the later years are easier. 
I guess what I'm trying to say is to make teaching just as fun as playing.  Taking the time to keep yourself neat in appearance and attitude, keeping your house clean while teaching your children how to do that, and using those teachable moments is what it's all about.


Until next time...

JenT

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

jump for summer



it's summer!!!

Until next time...

JenT

Saturday, March 2, 2013

project

 ST3's shelf:


 He did an awesome job, don't you think?




I think he's going to use it for this...maybe :)


Until next time...


JenT

Sunday, December 23, 2012

early Christmas





 Just a hint of what our early Christmas was like.


Until next time...

JenT

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

first teeth





You probably can't see it, but little Miss C.D. has two bottom teeth. :)
She got her teeth the soonest so far.  She's 8 months (can you believe it!) and she's had them for about 1 month.  Her older brother just above her got his at 10 months; all the rest got theirs at around a year.
Yes, she's sportin' her denim skirt and jacket here.  Soon I'll have some family photos to put up.  We'll all be in denim and red (hopefully).



Until next time... JenT

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

and now we are 5...


I wonder what this is?

  
Wow...this is really taped up!


 Look!  Just what I wanted!


Lots of pink!

  
Yummy!!

 I had a good birthday...and now I'm 5!!

Until next time...

JenT

over 100 degrees







Well?  What do you do when it's over 100 degrees out?  
We play water games.

Until next time...


JenT

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Nighthawk


 Nighthawk

I prance in mighty splendor here
A lion crouches down in fear.
I snort my awesome fiery rage
My name is written down on page.
Though saddled, sat on, I am king
No bridle can withhold my sting.
I rear and paw the ground in dance
My teeth are sharper than a lance.
I strike and run with slashing hoof
I need no shelter, have no roof.
My mane and tail fly like a flame
My wildness no man can tame.
I own the forest, field, and stream
The mountains echo with my scream.
My legs are fast, they are a blur
I cannot be captured, no fence, no lure.
I go so fast, I seem to fly
I skim the ground without a try.
My only supplement is grass
A human never calls me lass.
I swim through water like a fish
My legs move fast, the men do wish
That they had legs like mine.
I move not straight, without a line
I go where I ever please;
I run in the shade of the trees.
I mock the cows and tease the goat
I laugh at the horse that packs a tote.
My eyes are fire, my breath is smoke
I call the sun at the morning woke.
My muscles throb with energy
I trespass the town without a fee.
I gallop through as the wind does sigh
A mighty Friesian horse am I.

written by D.R.T (my second daughter)





Until next time...

 JenT

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

FINALLY!!


She's here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Don't be fooled by the blue blankets...she's all girl). :)

Well, actually she's been here since 8:20 this morning. :)

Just finally got around to posting about it on here.

I've made a habit of not announcing names on my blog, so if you aren't family or friend, I'm sorry you won't have her name. Her initials are C.D. however, so you can make up your own name for her. :)

But she's beautiful; all 9 lbs 9 oz of her. :) Much smaller than the previous 11.5 lb baby I had. She actually doesn't even look 9 lbs. I don't know where she's hiding it. :)

21.5 inches long and some dark hair, mostly on the back of the head.

Such a blessing, our beautiful little girl.


Until next time...JenT

Saturday, November 26, 2011

decorating the tree 2011

The kids decorating the tree at ma-maw's house.


















The finished product. They had lots of fun and it looks great!
Until next time...
JenT